England’s health service announced expanding its Covid-19 booster vaccination programme to 16 and 17-year-olds starting from Monday. “More than 4 in 5 adults in England have already been given booster shots, which will help to protect them from severe illness. We are now expanding the booster programme to 16 and 17-year-olds so they can be immune this winter and keep themselves and their friends safe,” British Health Minister Sajid Javid said in a statement.

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Since the vaccination programme rolled out to the age group in August 2021, over 889,700 teenagers or 7 in 10 people of the age 16 to 17 years old have had their first dose, and more than 600,000 have got their second dose of Covid-19 vaccine.